1993

Today a photo from one of my favorite days ever popped up in Facebook’s memories tool: the wedding day of one of my nearest and dearest friends. And I didn’t/still haven’t allowed it on my timeline, even though my friend looks amazing, in all her Audrey Hepburn glory, and even though I remember how happy that day was for us all.

I didn’t share it because I was huge. It was eight months after I had my daughter and I’d put on a lot of weight with that pregnancy. It’s still hard to see. Even harder because I’m just as big now.

A week and a half ago I hit my personal wall and found my resolve. I’ve come to terms with the lifestyle changes necessary and I’m not trying to do them–I’m doing them. There is no try. Only do. I’m down 5 lbs. already. I have 80 to go.

I just put that in writing. For the world to see. Because it’s happening. Because for the first time in 20 years, even though I have never lost a sense of my attractiveness, I can finally acknowledge that I want to be skinny again (like in that picture above), and much of that is in my control.

Run. Every day. Stick to the daily calorie count/nutritional goals. Every day. Retrain my tastebuds. Rewrite my mindset. Every day.

I wasn’t going to do a big declaration thing but here I am. I’ve been athletic in the past (half marathon six years ago, plenty of gym time with a great trainer) and I love feeling strong but I’ve never been as fully committed to my health (eating habits included) as I am now. I’ve let difficulties and stress lead to emotional eating and lack of movement. But that’s over. Because guess what…there will always be stress! So oxygen mask on myself if I want to live the life I’ve envisioned. And I can use all the help and encouragement you can share, fam.

Y’all think I’m cute now? Wait til you see me in the coming months and year. I’m gonna be stuntin’ on errybody.